Bacolod City – Negros Occidental will continue to follow the guidelines of the Inter Agency Task Force for wearing face masks, disclosed Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson.
Lacson said that he will not follow what Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia did, dispensing with the use of face masks, except in closed and air-conditioned spaces.
We will follow what the Inter Agency Task Force (IATF on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases) says, Lacson stressed.
“We will still continue to wear masks and adhere to some distancing,” Lacson, who arrived Friday from a three-day visit to Guam, said.
In a statement, the Department of Interior and Local Government said that President Rodrigo Duterte has issued a directive to continue the wearing of face masks, except under circumstances defined by the IATF-EMID. Current IATF protocols allow only for specific instances, such as when eating or during certain well-ventilated sports and activities.
Our adherence to minimum public health standards (MPHS) is the key to defeating this pandemic, outgoing DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said.
He also reminds the public and all LGUs that the COVID-19 virus is still present and the pandemic is not yet over.
As June 11, the increase in COVID-19 cases has remained at single digits, with 26 active cases recorded in Negros Occidental.
Negros Occidental, except its seven towns and cities and Bacolod City, remains under Alert Level 2 until June 15.
On the other hand, Bacolod City, Candoni, San Enrique, Pulupandan, EB Magalona, cities of Sagay, La Carlota and Victorias have been placed under Alert Level 1. (Gilbert Bayoran via The Visayan Daily Star (TVDS), photo courtesy of TVDS)
